Tabai Matson knows his team will need grit ahead of their last Gallagher Premiership Rugby home game at Twickenham tomorrow.
Harlequins face Gloucester Rugby in the penultimate round of the campaign and will be hoping that a win at their Big Summer Kick-Off will guarantee their place in the semi-finals.
The last time the two teams came head-to-head ended in a gruelling 20-17 victory to Quins at Kingsholm, a crucial penalty kick by Marcus Smith making all the difference.
And Saturday's game will prove to be a similarly challenging task.
🤲 Looking forward to getting our hands on the ball against Gloucester again tomorrow afternoon. #COYQ pic.twitter.com/kRGAgy1ytn
— Harlequins 🃏 (@Harlequins) May 20, 2022
Matson's side are unbeaten in their last five appearances at the home of English rugby and have won six of their last seven Premiership matches.
Gloucester are fifth in the Premiership and travel to Twickenham off the back of a dominant 64-0 win over Bath in Round 24.
Matson said: “I think our game against Gloucester earlier this season was probably one of our grittiest of the campaign.
"You have to be at your best when you play a team like that. The way they play, they are really pragmatic and have a fantastic scrum.
"It will be a contrast of styles and we’ll need to make sure we don’t let them into the game early and suffer the consequences.”
Matson has made just one change to his starting XV as Will Collier returns at tighthead prop, with an otherwise unchanged starting line-up from the side that travelled to Northampton Saints last month.
Will Evans, who returned from a long-term injury against London Irish in the Premiership Cup earlier this season, is named as an Impact player and will make his first Gallagher Premiership appearance of the season if he gets off the bench.
The Twickenham event promises to be a day of excitement with music from Craig David, a Community Sevens tournament and appearances from the 2012 Gallagher Premiership Rugby winning squad.
🔢 Key stats
— Harlequins 🃏 (@Harlequins) May 20, 2022
📈 Form guide
🤜🤛 Head to heads
🤓 Swot up for Big Summer Kick-Off: https://t.co/7OCNr8vdkp#COYQ #HARvGLO pic.twitter.com/ceuRVfEKYs
Matson said: “Heading into another big event at Twickenham Stadium, we couldn’t have asked for much better weather this week. The Big Summer Kick-Off is well and truly in swing.
"This weekend is pretty much a quarter final for us against Gloucester. It’s an important game for both teams with regards to playoff rugby. Our performance on Saturday will be crucial."
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